What is this obsession with framerates over 30FPS?

[Godhead]

It looks smoother and the higher your fps the less of a performance drop if you start chugging.

 

[8bitlove2a03]

Twenty-four frames per second is enough to provide the illusion of smooth movement on something like a movie or television. In a game, however, you're processing information in a different way and at you rely on every fraction of a second of reaction time you can get. If you have sixty fps you can react to changes in game better than you could at thirty fps because the information you're receiving new information more frequently. After sixty though you start receiving less benefits, and about seventy-five is the most fps you can actually use (anything above that and you're not actually processing all the frames being presented, due to cognitive limitiations).

That IS stupid. A lot of people can't even tell the difference above 40-45 fps (age related mostly). Above 60 almost nobody can. Above 80 it's just technical masturbation.

I agree that people don't need to PLAY at 80+ fps, but having the ability to do so isn't exactly a bad idea. For instance, I play TF2 at 250 fps, but because of that I can record gameplay at 60fps with no framerate drop. Beyond that, some games that people play around in for the sake of doing something grandiose with the engine (Skyrim, Garry's Mod, etc) would take a framerate drop if you didn't have the ability to handle the game at 250fps or so.

 

[Fredvdp]

Indeed, movies and television have a framerate of 24 FPS, and no-one seems to find any problem with them being choppy or slow.

Actually TV has a framerate of 25 fps. A cinematic release that is broadcast on television is sped up by one frame per second, and some gifted people can actually see that difference.

Originally movies ran at 18 fps, but this was increased to 24 when they made talkies, because the audio quality was too low when played at 18 fps.

I personally made the switch to PC gaming sometime this generation. At first I didn't care much about the framerate, but I've gotten used to 60 fps now and it's a huge difference. I was playing some Mass Efefct 3 multiplayer shortly after it came out and decided to record some footage using Fraps. Even when the framerate dropped to 45, I had trouble playing it.

The obsession with framerates is there because it makes you a better player. With movies you have a natural motion blur to bridge the frames and you're a passive viewer rather than an active participant. That's why it's more important in games. I personally would prefer higher framerates in action movies, and Peter Jackson is also working on that.

Why are ppl talking about 60FPS as a PC only thing? Don't many Wii games run at 60FPS?

Yes, Mario Kart comes to mind.

Here's a side by side comparison: http://frames-per-second.appspot.com/

 

[Naeras]

60 FPS looks a lot better than 30 FPS. I'm fairly certain there's no reason to go above 60, though.

 

[Fredvdp]

60 FPS looks a lot better than 30 FPS. I'm fairly certain there's no reason to go above 60, though.

That's because most monitors only have a refresh rate of 60hz at high resolutions. Professional gamers can see the difference between 60 and 120 fps, but I haven't had a chance to check it out myself.

 

[NLS]

I actually can't see the difference past 20 or so FPS.

There is a huge difference in the looks and smoothness of a game. If you don't think you can see a difference look at this: http://boallen.com/fps-compare.html

From your sauce:

Let's start with 15 FPS. Kinda choppy...






Now, let's move onto 30 FPS. Much smoother...






Now 60 FPS.



I can easily detect a more life-like fluidity in the 60 FPS example.

I saw nothing but blank white space between the words. Anyone else?

This tool is the best comparison of frame rates I've come across, as it allows you to change the frame rates of different objects (and add more objects) within the same image, giving an unrivalled comparison:

http://frames-per-second.appspot.com

Using that app, comparing 60 FPS and 30 FPS, both without motion blur, the soccer ball on bottom looks blurrier, but not any more or less choppy, than the one on top.

If you turn off the motion blur option, you'll see the lower FPS is more choppy. Motion blur is just a nifty invention to mask away the choppyness.

 

[Davey Woo]

I don't think i can tell the difference between 24 or 30. I certainly can't tell the difference between 30 and 60, but strangely I notice a massive difference if my framerate ever drops down to 20.

However, looking at some of the example things people have posted, when put next to each other I can tell the difference between 24/30, but still not between 30 and 60.

 

[Shilo Zaba]

What a lot of people might not realise, is for some of us, 60fps isnt just a preference but a need. Take me for example.. I am running an Epson Powerlite Homecinema 3010 3D Projector, and as great as it is (especially for movies!) it Only runs in 60hz, no 24 or 30. So if you know what a game looks like in 30hz running on a constant 60hz display at 720p and 1080p on a 130inch throw.... Then you will see why some of us hope and pray that our favorite games release with a native 60hz framerate (and native 1080p, which looks like what we have to look forward to with ps4 and xbox 720).

And if you don't know what that looks like let me tell you.
When I finally got my new projector set up and got rid of my last one cuz it looked fantastic on movies.
When i put my copy of the Amazing Spiderman in my 360, i almost got sick to the point of vomit.
Not the cheapest machine but unless I play games that are 60hz I find as a gamer some games unplayable. But all of my 60hz games (ps3 and 360), well the quality is just indescribable!

So try not to hate on all us 60fps lovers!

And if anyone knows of a conversion solution or something that could bring up my 24 and 30 hz gameplay on this type of display I would definitally appreciate it! Hate having to leave the mancave to game out in the livingroom!